Los Islotes snorkeling tours
Rock in the Sea of Cortez off La Paz
Rocks off the north end of Isla Partida, in the Espíritu Santo archipelago north of La Paz, home to a colony of California sea lions. Boats anchor off the colony so guests can snorkel near the sea lions, except from June 1 to August 31, when the park closes it to swimmers while they breed.
- California sea lions, year round
Marinas
- Marina Cortez, La Paz
When to dive Los Islotes
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California sea lion | Seen | Seen | Seen | Seen | Seen | Seen | Seen | Seen | Seen | Seen | Seen | Seen |
The darker mark is the months the source names as best. Months from scubadiverlife.com.
Near Los Islotes
Ensenada Grande
- Scuba diving
- Fishing
El Bajo (Espíritu Santo Seamount)
A seamount in the Gulf of California north of Isla Espíritu Santo, about 33 nautical miles (61 km) north of La Paz. It rises more than 890 m from the sea floor and is also called El Bajo de Espíritu Santo. Researchers have recorded striped, blue and black marlin, yellowfin tuna and dorado there, and it has been studied since the 1980s for its schools of hammerhead sharks. Sport-fishing boats run out to it for the billfish and tuna, and divers go down on it for the hammerheads.
Isla Espíritu Santo
La Paz Bay
The largest bay on the east coast of Baja California, opening east onto the Sea of Cortez. Isla Espíritu Santo and Isla Partida lie across its mouth, and the port of La Paz sits at its southern end, behind the sand spit of El Mogote.
Balandra Beach
- Snorkeling
San Rafaelito
A small rock with a lighthouse on it, about nine nautical miles north of Marina Cortez in La Paz, where California sea lions rest. Half-day boats stop beside it so guests can snorkel near the sea lions.
Isla San José
A volcanic island in the Sea of Cortez, some 60 km north of La Paz and the sixth-largest island in Mexico. It is about 30 km long, with a peak of 633 m near its middle.
- Whale watching
La Paz
Situated on the Sea of Cortez, known as "The Aquarium of the World." The city offers marinas, beautiful beaches, and opportunities for whale watching, swimming with sea lions, and exploring Espiritu Santo Island.
Maps © OpenStreetMap